A cabinet minister and local campaign group have traded insults following the release of damning report into the exhaust stacks being constructed for the West Gate Tunnel.
The report commissioned by Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) found design flaws in the tunnel’s exhaust stacks would result in thousands of residents in the inner west being exposed to harmful pollution, despite the tunnel being built to remove trucks from the roads and improve air quality.
The report conducted by Synergetics Consulting Engineers and released on Tuesday 21 October, found the stack’s cosmetic design flourishes would create a downwash effect, pushing pollution towards nearby homes in Altona North and Yarraville where both are located.
Yarraville resident Sarah Tartakover lives in Princess Street, a short distance from the tunnel’s northern stack, and said the results of the report made her feel betrayed.
“For seven years we’ve put up with the inconvenience (from the tunnel construction) in good faith that we will be better off, that our lives will be better off, that our health will be better off,” Ms Tartakova said
“I feel like we’ve been sold a lie.”
MTAG president Martin Wurt said the findings were alarming and again highlighted the need for filters to be installed in the stacks before the tunnel opens in December.
“These unfiltered stacks will create even higher rates of hospitalisations for asthma, cardio-vascular disease, strokes and heart attacks.
“Enough is enough!”
However, Williamstown MP and Roads Minister Melissa Horne fired back at MTAG, accusing the organisation of spreading disinformation and not providing the government with a copy of the report.
“No other government has invested more to improve air quality across Melbourne’s west,” Ms Horne declared before listing a range of initiatives the government had undertaken to tackle the problem.
She said numerous environmental and health assessments had found the tunnel would improve air quality and dismissed demands for filters to be installed.
“No tunnels in Australia include filtration systems.
“Expert assessments have found that filtration is not required for the West Gate Tunnel ventilation system.”
Mr Wurt disputed the minister’s claim that the government had not been provided with a copy of the report, pointing out that MTAG shared a draft version with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos and Footscray MP Katie Hall at a meeting in May and that attempts to meet with Ms Horne had been rebuffed.
He said a copy of the final report had also been provided to the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), which he wants to convene a conference of concerned citizens to discuss the findings before it give final approval to tunnel operator Transurban.
A spokesperson for the EPA wouldn’t confirm if a copy of the report had been passed on to the government, but said ground level air pollution levels would be monitored closely once the tunnel opened and data released monthly.
However, the spokesperson said all assessments and modelling had indicated that air pollution levels would be low and not a health risk.
A spokesperson from tunnel operator Transurban agreed, adding that the stack’s current exhaust fans would be sufficient.
“Independent assessments by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and other expert bodies have confirmed that the ventilation system will meet or exceed all relevant air quality performance requirements.”
